The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1887-05-04
WOMAN'S WORLD.
The Elevation of the Stage---Mre,
Cleveland's Influence.

A short time since I was one of a
party invited by New York manager,
Mr.. A. M. Palmer, to make the trip to
Washington with his company and wit
ness the performance of a play which
has been running all the season at the
Madison-square Theatre, New York
(eJim, the Penman'), for the benefit of
the Actors Fund of America. The Act
ors' Fund was founded five years ago,
Mr.. Albert M. Palmer, of the Madison
square Theatre, being its most active
promoter, and is the first substantial
effort of actors and managers to provide
permanent resources from which to
draw for mutual benefit, aid in sickness,
protection in old age, and strength and
encouragement during the days of health
and vigor. Highly as individual actors
and actresses have been esteemed, they
had no organization of national dignity
or Importance, and no certain source OF
mutual help, sympathy and encourage
ment, and the Actors Fund is intended
to supply all of these. Already 1t has
capital fund of $4,000, and it is in con-
temptation to not only provide certain
aid in case of sickness or disability, but
to provide fine permanent building in
the city of New York, which shall be an
educational institute, a clubhouse, and
home worthy of pursuit which de-
mands superior intellectual qualities and
Is beginning to take its place as one Of
the noblest of the professions.
This is why the Actors Fund has a
national Importance, and this is partly
why the invitation for this special per-
Torrance came from the President of the
United States, the members of the Cabi-
net and chief officers of the government
The train consisted of special cars, and
taking in, at the first glance, the persons
who made up the assemblage and the
provision for their comfort, one could
but arrive at the conclusion that
vast advance had taken place
in habits, customs and public opin-
ION, since the time when the players"
the 'best" the city did afford, were over
taken on their way to the court of Den
mark, and given over to old Polonius
for care and entertainment. The mod
ern manager" is no player. In this case
he was the son of an old and respected
clergyman who has occupied one pulpit
for upward .of thirty years. His young
son and daughter were both with him,
and his grief was that his wife could not
accompany him because of indisposition,
which would have prevented the whole
expedition, had not the publicity rem
dered this impossible. The belle of the
party was a young married lady, an
actress, whose husband, an actor, is her
devoted slave, and of the other lady
members Of the company one has earned
her title to Queen" and another is a
grandmother, yet still fine actress and
recognized anywhere and everywhere as
true lady
1t was curious to see these people,
whom the public generally only see upon
the mimic world of the stage doing the
common things, actuated by the ordinary
motives, and supplied with as complete
an outfit of the usual joys, sorrows,
delights and anxieties as the most OBJ
scure individual among us. 1t was pleas
ant, also, to see that in the national
capital they were received with due
honor, that beautiful flowers crowded
their table, that senators and their wives
were eager to see and greet them, and
that actress no longer stood in the
way among the intelligent and educated
of honor and social distinction.
Up to within very short time the
society of our large cities has been far
behind Europe, and particularly London,
In this respect. In this latter city Ihave
seen a duchess wait on the edge of a
crowd for chance to speak to Miss
Genevieve Ward, the actress, at an even
ing reception; while such women as Mrs.
Kendall, actress and wife of manager, are
received into the finest houses in London.
This has not heretofore been so in this
country, and II has been one of the great
est drawbacks to the entrance into the
profession of young women of education
gradually and very sensibly being re-
moved. The dramatic profession is one
of the few that offers equal chances to
women with men. II demands superior
intelligence; it calls for the exercise OF
high intellectual qualities il requires the
possession or the stimulation of culture
and refinement. If 1t presents tempta-
tions to those who are assailable, so much
more reason why society and all good
women should throw around the subjects
of them all the guards which self-respect,
association, countenance and fellowship
can command. Much that we call temp
tation only assails the weak and vain, not
the strong, or those inspired by worthy
purpose 1t is infinitely better, therefore,
that the women of the stage should be
drawn from the best, not the poorest
sources; that they should be educated,
intelligent, self-reliant, not the victims of
vulgar desire for display and admira-
ton.
1t Is rather remarkable that the cen
trail figure of Washington society should
be a young girl, whose previous life,
while charged with some grave RESPONSE
bilities, and experiences, had been as far
removed as possible from expectation of
the high position she was called upon TO
fill, That she is the wife of the President
does not explain the hold she has OBJ
tanned upon the hearts of men and women
alike, of every rank and degree. "There
is not a man in Washington who is not
dead gone on Mrs. Cleveland" said a
gentleman who holds official rank, NOR
woman who has not been conquered by
her sweetness. | was present." he con-
tinued, "at her first important reception
after her marriage, and saw her as she
entered the long hall of the White House
leading to the conservatory on the arm
the President. The corridor was lined
ON both sides with critical, curious
crowd, composed of the most Inexperienced
and distinguished members of Washing
ton society. She endured the ordeal with
perfect composure. The graceful, fearless
young figure passed down through the
midst of the brilliant throng, bowling to
the right, and left, as if born to homage
and made up my mind it was not the
possessions of exceptionalg gifts. but simply
the talent and adaptability of the Ameri-
can girl, which makes her the peer of
princesses and crowned heads anywhere"
Is II not singular that while the Amer
lean girl is demonstrating her fitness for
the purple the royalties Of the world are